Apparatus for connecting aligned cigarettes and filters



Feb. 6, 1968 A. SKALA APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING ALIGNED CIGARETTES AND FILTERS Filed May 6, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

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APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING ALIGNED CIGARETTES AND FILTERS Filed May 6, 1965 5 sheets-sheet INVENTCZ R. 57/270 /7 [(0/0 Feb; 6, 1968 A. SKALA 3,367,341

APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING ALIGNED CIGARETTES AND FILTERS Filed May 6, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

67/7 fan/r1 IA 0 /a United States Patent Office 3,367,341 Patented Feb. 6, 1968 3,367,341 APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING ALIGNED CEGARETTES AND FILTERS Antonin Sktila, Prague, Czechoslovakia, assignor to Zavody VJ. Lenina Plzen, narodni pod'nilr, Plzen, Czechoslovakia Filed May 6, 1965, Ser. No. 453,644 Claims priority, application Czechoslovakia, May 6, 1964, 2,627/ 64 11 Claims. (Cl. 131-94) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a device for connecting groups of aligned cigarettes and filters or of other rod-shaped objects by means of wrappers there are cooperating first, second, and third drum means for progressively transporting individual groups of objects to be connected.- Thefirst and third drum means are provided with axially extending and circumferentially spaced grooves, and the second drum means has at least two circumferentially extending parallel and endless grooves. The second drum means also cooperates with guide means to form an adjustable chute and to cause each of the referred to groups to perform a revolution, while passing through the chute.

This invention relates to a device for connecting aligned individual rod-shaped objects by wrapping an adhesive connector sheet around the butting ends of the objects to be joined, and more particularly to a device for producing filter cigarettes, filter cigarillos or the like.

The primary object of this invention is to generally improve devices for rolling a connector sheet around the butting ends of cigarettes and filters and to simplify, cheapen and speed up the manufacture of cigarettes. The invention covers the production of filter cigarettes, filter cigarillos and also the assembly of other rod-shaped objects.

In the production of filter mouthpiece cigarettes different devices for wrapping a connector sheet by rolling actions have been suggested and used. The development of such wrapping devices led to complicated lever mechanisms which were operated by drives of different speeds, using cams of different designs. Other known devices permitted the use of simpler rolling mechanisms and proved more reliable. There are different types of rolling devices known. One of the types uses drums provided with grooves, The cigarettes revolve in such grooves with the help of plates or the like as holding means. Another type uses an endless conveyor belt and a plate opposing the belt. Still another type combined the principles of drums and conveyors and provided that parts moved at different speeds in different directions. The aim of the prior constructions was greater simplicity and dependability and lower initial costs. However, all the prior constructions suffer from the fact that they do not ensure proper alignment of the elements to be joined, which resulted in inferior products, with filters and cigarettes improperly aligned or somewhat angularly assembled.

Other objects of the present invention center about a device for connecting aligned rod-shaped objects, which overcomes the disadvantages of prior construction, is reliable and, above all, ensures proper alignment of the joined objects.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists in the elements of the device and the relation of these elements one to the other, as are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims.

Broadly, the invention provides a machine frame and first, second, and third drum means. These drum means are mounted for rotation about substantially parallel axes spaced from each other in radial directions. The first and second drum means, and the second and third drum means, are tangential to each other. The first and third drum means have a plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially extending peripheral grooves while the sec ond drum means is provided with at least two parallel and endless circumferential grooves. The axially extending grooves transport groups of aligned objects to be joined or already joined in directions perpendicular to the elongation of the groups. The device of my invention includes further guide means which are shaped and arranged to spacedly follow the curvature of a portion of the circumference of the second drum means, and to form with said portion a chute. The width of the space within the chute is such as to cause each of the groups to perform a revolution about the axis of the respective group while the groups travel through the chute.

The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a device in a filter cigarette machine, embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section through a part of the device of the invention, drawn to enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another part of the device of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of still another part.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, and initially to FIG. 1, there is shown as much of a device for assembling filters or filter plugs with the other elements of cigarettes, as is needed for an understanding of the invention.

Groups 1 which consist of cigarettes and interposed filters of double length move through a vertical magazine 2 in the direction of the arrow A and are transferred by means of a transfer drum 3 to a distributing drum 5. The drums 3 and 5 rotate about parallel axes in opposite directions. The groups 1 which are loosely assembled and not yet united are received one after the other in circumferentially spaced and axially extending grooves 4 in the drum 5 (see also FIG. 4). Holding members 6 and 7, preferably made of sheet material, serve to hold the cigarette and filter groups in grooves in the drum 3 and in the grooves 4 in the drum 5, respectively. The holding members 6 and 7 are shaped and arranged to follow the curvature of a portion of the circumference of the drum 3 and 5, respectively.

Then, the groups 1, again one after the other, are pressed by sides 8 of the grooves 4 into a chute 9 formed between a rotating roller 10 and a guide plate 11. The latter is fastened to a two-armed swinging lever 12 at one end thereof. At its other end, the lever 12 carries a latch 13 which is seated in a hollow in the lever and is biased by a spring 15. A portion 16 of the latch 13 projects from the referred to hollow and is of conical shape. The projecting latch portion enters a depression 17 in a holder 18,

the depression being similarly shaped as the conical projecting portion of the latch 13. The holder 18 is provided with a lug 19 which carries an adjusting screw 20 serving to adjust the position of the lever 12 and the distance between the roller 19 and the plate 11.

The grooves 4 in the drum 5 are shown in FIG. 4 to be defined by a surface which consists of a curved bottom 8' and two sides 8. The bottom 8 corresponds in shape to a segment of the cross-sectional shape of a group 1. The sides, when extended toward the axis of the drum 5, intersect each other and form an angle of approximately 20. The round transitions at R between the circumference of the drum and each of the sides 8 have a diameter approximately one-fourth of the diameter of the groups 1.

The lever 12 (FIG. 1) is shown in a solid line or in its operative position and in a broken line or in its inoperative position. For instance, for purposes of cleaning the plate 11 from glue or the like the lever 12 is swung from the solid line to the broken line position whereby the plate 11 is moved away from the roller to become accessible. To make such swinging possible the latch 13 which has arrested the lever 12 in its operative position is moved by means of a handle 14 against the biasing force of the spring 15 so that the latch portion 16 retracts and permits movement of the respective end of the lever 12 along the curved periphery 18' of the holder 18. When in its inoperative position, the lever is arrested by releasing the latch 13 and permitting the latch portion 16 to engage the depression 21.

The roller 10 has on its outer surface two circumferentially extending parallel and endless grooves 22 in which end portions of two parallel take-off members 23 are received (see FIG. 2). There are as many parallel take-off numbers as are grooves. The take-off members 23 and 23 are shaped and arranged to follow the curvature of a portion of the circumference of a rotating takeup drum 24 which is provided with circumferentially spaced and axially extending grooves 25 to receive wrapped ciga'rette-and-filter groups 1 and to carry them to a cutting drum 27. The groups 1 are transferred from the receiving grooves 25 of the drum 24 to grooves 27' of the cutting drum 27 with the aid of parallel holding members 28. The assembled groups 1 are severed by a rotating circular knife 31, and the severed filter cigarettes are collected on a conveyor belt 39. A group of two cigarettes with a filter of double length interposed between the cigarettes is cut across the middle of the double length filter and results in two filter cigarettes, each of the latter being provided with a filter plug of single length.

Adjacent end portions 23a and 28a of the members overlap each other to make sure that the groups 1 are safely held during the transfer from the drum 24 to the drum 27.

A web 32 of wrapping material, ordinarily paper, is fed from a supply roll 33 and passed through an adhesivesupplying station onto the roller 10. Adhesive is applied by a roll 34. A rotating knife 35 cuts from the web 32 adhesive-coated strips of the desired length. The cut strips as well as the wrapping material 32 are held onto the roller 10 by slight suction produced by drawing air through port holes 40, a suction chamber 36, and a duct 37.

The roller 10 shown in FIG. 2 is supported by a shaft 38 which has mounted thereon for its drive a toothed wheel 39. The circumferential channels 22 in which, as has been stated, end portions of the take-off members 23 are received are clearly seen in FIG. 2. More clearly are also seen the port holes 40, the suction chamber 36, and the duct 37;

The modified roller 10' of FIG. 3 is shown to be provided with four circumferential channels 22 rather than two and there are accordingly four take-off members 23.

Having now reference to FIG. 4, the loose groups 1, as they leave the vertical magazine 2 are pressed one by one into the grooves 4 of the distributing drum 5 and are pushed forward by one of the sides 8 of the grooves 4.

FIG. 5 shows the take-up drum 24 and the receiving grooves 25. The outline defining a groove 25, when viewed in plan, has two sides one of which coincides with a line connecting a point in the axis of the drum 24 and a point where said one side and the circumference of the drum 25 meet. The two sides form an angle of approximately 72.

The operation of my device is as follows:

A group 1 consisting of two cirgarettes and an interposed filter of double length, in a nonassembled condition and in an end-to-end relationship, drops from the vertical magazine 2 upon the distributing drum 5. The

two cigarettes and the filter form loose parts. A single group is received in each of the grooves 4, but more than a single group could simultaneously be worked on as well.

One of the sides 8 of each groove 4, depending on the direction of rotation of the drum 5, pushes the respective group forward and presses it into the chute between the roller 10 and the plate 11.

From FIG. 1 it is seen that both the uncut web 32 of wrapping material as well as cut strips 26 thereof adhere to the peripheral surface of the roller 10 due to suction applied to both the web 32 and the strips 26. The free sides of the web and strips are adhesive-coated. It will further be seen from FIG. 1 that the circumferential speeds of the roller 10 and the knife 35 are such that a gap forms between two adjacent strips 26. Also, the operational relationship of the drums 5 and 10 provides that a group 1 moves into the chute at the leading end of a strip 26. Reference is made to the position I in FIG. 1. It is the leading end of a strip which will be wrapped first around a group as the group starts revolving in the chute 9. In the next following position II of a group, a portion of a strip is shown to be partly wrapped about a group. In the position III, a strip is almost fully wrapped about a group, and in the position IV, a strip is fully wrapped about a group.

In the construction selected for illustration, the distributing drum 5 has a greater rotational speed than the roller 10. Generally, the distributing drum 5 and the roller 10 must have the same circumferential speed. The sides 8 are formed so as to help press the groups into the chute 9 and to make sure that the groups are received in the chute in a condition in which the axes of all groups are positively parallel. The distance between the roller 10 and the plate 11 is set so as to be smaller by 0.3 or 0.6 mm. than the diameter of the groups 1 so that each of the groups while passing through the chute 9, will perform a revolution between the rotating roller 10 and the stationary plate 11.

Upon wrapping, a strip or wrapper 26 firmly joins two cigarettes and an interposing filter of double length, and such firm assemblies now move on while in the grooves 25 of the take-up drum 24. The members 23 push the joined groups off the roller 10 onto the drum 24, and it is the side 29' of a groove 25, which siezes a group as it leaves the chute 9 (see FIG. 5). Two or more take-up members 23, depending on the number of circumferential channels 22 or 22' in the roller 10 and 10, respectively, cooperate to effect the transfer of the assemblies to the grooves 25.

The circumferential speed of the take-up drum 24 is one-half of that of the distributing drum 5, and the distance between two adjacent grooves 25 in the drum 24 is also one-half of that between adjacent grooves 4 in a drum 5.

The groups continue until they arrive at the cutting station where each group is cut by the knife 31 into two filter cigarettes, leaving the free filter ends of the cigarettes abut against each other.

Accurate setting of the width of the chute 9 or the distance between the roller 10 and the plate 11 is being done with the aid of the adjusting screw 20.

It is believed that the construction and operation of the form of my device, selected for illustration, and the many advantages thereof, will be fully understood from the foregoing detailed description. Two of the main advantages are reviewed hereinafter. The invention provides that the loose elements to be joined are perfectly aligned when groups of such elements enter the chute 9. Perfect alignment of individual loose elements in abutting end-toend relation ensures that groups of such elements when connected by wrapping an adhesive connector sheet around butting end portions of the elements are converted into high quality end products. Another advantage of the present device, is to be seen in the omission of both reduced and increased air pressure in connection with drums such as the distributing drum 5 and the take-up drum 24. Both suction and compressor means, as employed with prior construction, complicate the constructions. In the present case very light suction is used in connection with the roller only to hold Wrapping material and strips thereof.

It will be apparent that although I have shown and described my invention in a few forms only, many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Device for connecting groups of aligned cigarettes and filters or of other rod-shaped objects by a wrapper, comprising (a) a machine frame,

(b) first drum means having a first axis and being mounted for rotation about said first axis, said first drum means having a plurlity of circumferentially spaced and axially extending peripheral distributing grooves for transporting said groups perpendicularly to the elongation of said groups,

(c) second drum means having a second axis and being mounted for rotation about said second axis, said second drum means having at least two parallel and endless circumferential grooves,

((1) third drum means having a third axis and being mounted for rotation about said third axis, said third drum means having a plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially extending peripheral receiving grooves for transporting said groups still further, said first, second, and third axes being spaced from each other in radial directions and coinciding with three shafts supported by said frame, said first and second drum means, and said second and third drum means, being tangential to each other,

(e) guide means shaped and arranged to spacedly follow the curvature of a portion of the circumference of said second drum means, and to form with said portion a chute, the space between said guide means and said portion being adjustable so as to cause each of said groups to perform a revolution about the axis of a respective one of said groups while said groups travel through said chute,

(f) means for swinging said guide means toward and away from said portion, and

(g) means for adjustably positioning and releasably fastening said guide means relative to said portion.

2. In the device according to claim 1,

(a) first holding means shaped and arranged to follow the curvature of a portion of the circumference of said first drum means for holding said groups within said distributing grooves, and

(b) take-off means shaped and arranged to follow the curvature of a portion of the circumference of said third drum means for holding said groups within said receiving grooves, said take-off means having end portions, said end portions entering said circumferential grooves to cause said groups to be transferred from said chute into said receiving grooves.

3. In the device according to claim 2, fourth drum means having a fourth axis and being mounted for rotation about said fourth axis, said fourth axis being substantially parallel to said first, second, and third axes, said fourth drum means being in a substantially tangential relationship with respect to said third drum means and being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially extending grooves, a cutting knife mounted to cut said groups as they travel in the grooves of said fourth drum means.

4. In the device according to claim 3, second holding means shaped and arranged to follow the curvature of a portion of the circumference of said fourth drum means for holding said groups within the grooves of said fourth drum means, said take-off means and said second holding means having overlapping end portions.

5. In the device according to claim 1, the outline defining each of said distributing grooves, when viewed in pian, having a curved bottom portion and sides, said curved bottom portion corresponding in shape to a segment of the cross-sectional shape of said cigarettes and filters or rodshaped objects.

6. In the device according to claim 5, said sides, when extended toward said second axis, intersecting each other and forming an angle of approximately 20.

'7. In the device according to claim 5, the transitions between the circumference of said first drum means and each of said sides being round, each of said round transitions having a diameter approximately one-fourth of the diameter of said cigarettes and filters or rod-shaped objects.

8. In the device according to claim 1, said first and third drum means being mounted so that said third drum means has a circumferential speed approximately onehalf of that of said first drum means.

9. In the device according to claim 1, the outline defining each of said receiving grooves, when viewed in plan, having two sides, one of said sides coinciding with a line connecting a point in said third axis and a point where said one side and the circumference of said third drum means meet, said one side and the other of said sides making an angle of approximately 72.

10. In the device according to claim 1, said positioning and fastening means including (a) a two-armed lever pivotally mounted at an intermediate point thereof on said frame for swinging movements,

(b) adjusting means acting upon said lever at one end thereof for setting said space or the distance between said guide means and said portion, and

(c) means for releasably securing said lever in place, said securing means also acting upon said one lever end,

(1) said lever carrying said guide means at the other lever end.

11. In the device according to claim 1, said first and second drum means having the same circumferential speed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,156,600 5/1939 Molins 13 l94 2,858,046 10/1958 Pollmann 131-94 2,874,701 2/ 1959 Stelzer 19879 3,058,475 10/ 1962 Gamberini 13 l94 3,059,651 10/1962 Molins et al. 131-94 3,077,889 2/1963 Patterson 131-94 3,156,246 11/1964 Burkhard 131-94 3,164,243 1/ 1965 Rudszinat et al. 19832 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,388 5/1963 Germany. 954,481 4/1964 Great Britain.

ALDRICH F, MEDBERY, Primary Examiner, 

